When Cartier crafted the inaugural Cartier Pasha in 1932 it was a special piece for the Sultan of Marrakech. The most striking thing about this wristwatch is that it was one of the globe’s first water-resistant watches of all time. With a truly beautiful, simple sophistication, the watch’s circular face famously boasts four digits. Indeed, the Cartier Pasha was a watch that was frequently remade and today it is a bonafide icon.
Specially requested by the Pasha, in 1943 the Cartier Pasha de Cartier watch was brought into the Cartier family. The piece is a water resistant model and has a built in screw down crown. Furthermore, there is a special guard over the sapphire glass on the face of the piece. With these two unique features, the Pasha watch has released a range of pieces within the name Pasha de Cartier, making this one of the most sought after watches the brand have ever made.
As well as the classic Pasha de Cartier watches, the famous Miss Pasha family all watches in the collection feature the unique round shape and the oversized sapphire crown. These days, the original Cartier Pasha from 1943 informs the present day ladies Pasha de Cartier family. Indeed, throughout the years Cartier has released a range of pieces that take inspiration from the original Pasha.
Throughout a long and storied history, the brand of Cartier has long been the choice of the world’s elite. Elegant enough for the duties of a pasha and rugged enough for a swim, the Pasha that many seek today was created in the 1980’s by iconic designer Gerald Genta. Before the Pasha, Genta had made a wide range of iconic high end athletic watches, such as the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and the Patek Philippe Nautilus. In addition, he created the design for the IWC Ingenieur and as a result it only makes sense that this would be the man who made the Pasha a seminal wrist watch in its own right.
With a round case as opposed to the square styles that Cartier had until then been renowned for creating, the watch was unique in that it was waterproof to a huge depth of 100m. In addition, the face of the new Pasha de Cartier was adorned with Arabic numerals rather than Cartier’s regular Roman numerals, bringing a sense of North African flair to the piece. Genta decided on Vendome lugs and an oversized crown blue sapphire to bring yet more elegance to the piece, with a tiny cap on the case stopping the crown being damaged in water.
Naturally, the piece was a huge success and today the Pasha is created in a range of sizes, materials and colours, making it one of Cartier’s most adored models. From chronographs to more formal offerings, the Pasha has developed into a rather diverse piece that drives collectors across the globe into a frenzy.
Whether a vintage version or a brand new creation, those seeking a Pasha from Cartier adore the timepiece’s unique and unmistakable aesthetic. An excellent option for a diverse chronograph, the Cartier Pasha is today a truly iconic timepiece that commands respect throughout the world as a truly high end luxury athletic wrist watch.
